When you’re starting a business, every penny counts. That’s why it’s important to choose a credit card with rewards and perks that fit your business needs.
Whether you’re looking for cash back, valuable rewards, flexible payment options, or low-interest rates, there’s a credit card out there for you.
Below are our picks for the best credit cards for startups.
Best for Daily Business Spending: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (review)
Best for E-Commerce Businesses: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (review)
Best for Simple Rewards: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (review)
1. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Best for Daily Business Spending
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 2 Points Per Dollar on the First $50,000 in Purchases Each Calendar Year (1x Points thereafter)
- 0.0% Intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months. After that, reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- No Annual Fee (rates & fees)
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (review) offers a strong 2x Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 in purchases annually, making it an excellent no-annual-fee (rates & fees) option for small business owners. This card provides good value for everyday spending and access to Amex’s 20+ transfer partners, though it does have foreign transaction fees.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Earning Points: 2 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent on the card annually (then 1 point per dollar).
Card Benefits: Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Expanded Buying Power, and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies.
Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
2. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best for E-Commerce Businesses
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (review) offers great rewards for small business owners. With bonus points on travel, shipping, advertising, and communication services, plus valuable travel protections, it’s a solid choice for companies looking to maximize their everyday spending.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Rewards: 3x points on travel, shipping, advertising made with social media sites and search engines, and internet, cable and phone services on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year; 1x points on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation insurance, cell phone protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
3. Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Best for Occasional Business Travelers
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business (review) simplifies rewards earning with double miles on everything you buy. This straightforward business card lets you transfer miles to travel partners or redeem directly for travel purchases, making it a practical choice for business owners who want travel flexibility without complex bonus categories.
Welcome Bonus: Earn a 50,000 miles bonus when you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months.
Earn Rewards: 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars for bookings via Capital One’s travel booking site; 2x miles on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, primary rental car insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection, and no foreign transaction fees.
Transfer Partners: Accor (2 to 1), Aeromexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Emirates, Etihad, Finnair, I Prefer Hotels (1 to 2), Japan Airlines(2 to 1.5), JetBlue (5 to 3), Qantas, Qatar, Singapore KrisFlyer, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Red, and Wyndham Rewards.
4. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Best for Simple Cashback Rewards
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (review) offers a straightforward 1.5% cash back on all business purchases with no bonus categories to track and no annual fee. This card shines brightest when paired with premium Chase cards, allowing you to transform your rewards into valuable Ultimate Rewards points for transfers to travel partners.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earn Rewards: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: Primary rental car insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty, and 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies.
5. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for Business Travelers Wanting Lounge Access
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (review) delivers premium travel benefits including extensive lounge access (access is limited to eligible card members) and valuable hotel elite status. This premium business card excels at making travel more luxurious, though you’ll need to use multiple statement credits and travel perks to maximize its value.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earn Rewards: 5x points for flights, prepaid hotels booked at AmexTravel.com; 2x points per dollar for purchases up to $2 million in spending per calendar year in these categories: purchases of $5,000 or more regardless of category, U.S. cloud service and software providers, U.S. construction materials and hardware suppliers, U.S. electronics retailers, and U.S. shipping providers; and 1x points on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits:
- Statement Credits: You’ll earn numerous statement credits including $250 for Adobe purchases after spending $600, up to $200 for airline incidentals, up to $209 for Clear Plus membership, up to $1,150 for Dell purchases ($150 in credits plus $1,000 after spending $5,000), Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, up to $200 for Hilton purchases ($50 quarterly with required Hilton for Business membership), up to $600 for Fine Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Collection bookings ($300 biannually with minimum two-night stays required for Hotel Collection), up to $360 for Indeed hiring services ($90 quarterly), and up to $120 for wireless telephone services ($10 monthly from any U.S. provider).
- Airport Lounge Access: American Express Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club when flying Delta (limited to 10 annual visits unless you spend $75,000 in a calendar year), Priority Pass, Escape Lounges, and Select Lufthansa Lounge when flying Lufthansa Group airlines. (Access is limited to eligible Card Members)
- Elite Status: Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz’s President’s Circle, National Emerald Club Executive, and Avis Preferred Plus.
- Other Benefits: No preset spending limit, baggage insurance plan, trip cancellation and delay insurance, secondary rental car insurance, no foreign transaction fees, extended warranty, return protection, purchase protection, and cell phone protection.
Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
6. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Best for Earning Cash Back
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (review) offers 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases annually, then 1% thereafter, with rewards automatically credited to your statement each billing cycle. This no-annual-fee card (rates & fees) provides a straightforward way for small businesses to earn cash back on expenses, though larger spenders may find more value in other options.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Cash Back: 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases every calendar year. After that, the card earns 1% back. Your cash back on the Blue Business Cash appears as an automatic monthly statement credit.
Benefits: Extended warranty, purchase protection, secondary rental car insurance, Expanded Buying Power, and 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies.
7. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Best for Utility Bills & Hilton Elite Status
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (review) offers complimentary Gold elite status and up to $240 in annual Hilton credits (up to $60 per quarter), making it a solid option for small business owners who frequently stay at Hilton properties. While it lacks free night awards, the card provides good value for Hilton loyalists through its earning rates and elite status benefits.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Points: 12x points for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio and 5x points on all other purchases made with the card on the first $100,0000 in purchases each calendar year (3x points thereafter).
Benefits: Complimentary Hilton Gold elite status, earn Hilton Diamond when you spend $40,000 on your Card in a calendar year, up to $240 back each year for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton ($60 per quarter), National Emerald Club Executive status (upon enrollment), baggage insurance plan, secondary rental car insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection.
8. U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard®
Best for Office Supplies
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Credit Card (review) is a no annual fee business card that offers a $100 recurring software credit and 3% cash back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers, and restaurants.
Welcome Bonus: Earn $600 after spending $4,500 in the first 150 days.
Earn Rewards: 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center; 3% back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers, and restaurants; 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: $100 annual Software credit after 11 consecutive months of eligible software service purchases, and 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 19.24% to 28.24%.
9. American Express® Business Gold Card
Best for Flexible Spending Categories
The American Express® Business Gold Card (review) offers tailored rewards, earning 4x points in your top two spending categories each billing cycle from a list of six options (capped at $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year). With up to $395 in annual statement credits and valuable redemption options through Membership Rewards transfer partners, this card can be a powerful earning tool for many businesses.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Earning Points: 4x points in your top two categories each billing cycle up to $150,000 in combined purchases at 4x points (then 1x points) in the following purchase categories: US gas stations, US restaurants, US advertising in select media, transit and rideshare, monthly US wireless telephone services charges made directly with wireless service provider, U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers; 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com; and 1x points on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: Up to $20 monthly credit upon enrollment when you use your card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores, Walmart+ credit, no present spending limit, trip delay insurance, baggage insurance plan, secondary rental car insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business Plus® Credit Card from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
